Delta Connection Announces Aircraft Plans

3rd Mar 2004

Delta Connection announced today the acquisition of 32 CRJ200s from
Bombardier Aerospace. Delivery will begin in 2005. Atlantic Southeast
Airlines will receive 25 of the aircraft, and SkyWest Airlines will
receive seven. Chautauqua Airlines will receive an additional 13 Embraer
regional jet (ERJ) aircraft for 2004 and 2005, bringing Chautauqua’s total
Delta Connection flying to 45 regional jet aircraft.
“The selected quality carriers were chosen based on their cost
competitiveness, ability to offer the operational flexibility needed to
respond to the ever-changing market conditions, and a commitment to
operational service levels,” said Fred Buttrell, president and chief
executive officer, Delta Connection Inc. “Secured long-term financing for
the CRJ and ERJ aircraft has been obtained without additional upfront cash
investments by Delta Air Lines .”

ASA and SkyWest will begin to take delivery of the new CRJ200s in the
first quarter of 2005. The new regional jets will bring Delta Connection
flying for SkyWest to 54 regional jets, and increase ASA’s CRJ fleet to
148 aircraft. Chautauqua will begin flying its growth aircraft beginning
in June 2004. These aircraft are being procured and placed into service
for Delta Connection in response to the request for proposal issued in
December 2003. Delta will determine the markets best served by these
regional jets to support the Delta Connection network, and it plans to
allocate this growth capacity primarily to serve Delta’s hubs.

“Continued investments in regional jets are essential to the future of
Delta’s network. Delta Connection continues to be an important strategic
tool to boost Delta’s financial performance, and maintain market
presence,” said Buttrell. “Delta Connection also provides important
customer service benefits, including access from hundreds of small- and
medium-size communities to Delta’s hubs and an extensive network of
domestic and international destinations. Delta Connection maintains the
world’s leading portfolio of successful, high quality regional airlines
expanding Delta’s geographic reach.”